peefyn
This is an origin story, but does not dwell much on the character's origins. You get to see the moment he decides to become The Spirit, but not much of his story before that. The case he's trying to solve involves the curator of a museum being involved in criminal activity. The character himself is dumb, clumsy, and at times quite rude. It's hard to see why one should sympathize much with him.The best thing with this movie (TV pilot) is also one of the things that makes it hard to take it seriously: it looks more like a music video then an action story. A bit similar to the Schumacher Batman-movies at times, while at other times it looks like any 80s TV-series. Especially the graveyard set reminds me of something like Michael Jackson's Thriller.So is it worth a watch? Maybe if you have some sort of relationship with The Spirit, or if you like movies based on comic books. It's typical for its era, but that's about the only interesting thing about it.
ersinkdotcom
Originally made as a pilot for a series based on Will Eisner's legendary comic book character, it ended up forever lost as a TV-movie. It wasn't until the arrival of Frank Miller's ill-received big-screen adaptation that this garnered attention once again.Denny Colt (Sam Jones) comes to Central City to investigate the death of his good friend (Philip Baker Hall). After getting a little too close to the truth, Colt is shot and left for dead to drown in the harbor. Thought to be dead, he "raises" from the grave as the masked avenger the Spirit. He joins forces with the city's police commissioner Dolan (Garry Walberg) to find the connections between his friend's murder and a local art heist.The cast of "The Spirit" features some interesting actors in key roles. Sam Jones steps out of his Flash Gordon outfit and into the blue suit and fedora of the masked vigilante. Nana Visitor ("Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," "Torchwood") plays police commissioner Dolan's daughter, Ellen, who has a crush on the Spirit. Television actor Garry Walberg of "Quincy, M.E." fame portrays Commissioner Dolan.Most fans of "The Spirit" will find this failed 1987 TV-pilot much easier to digest than Frank Miller's big-screen adaptation of the hero. Although the movie has its ups and downs, it's more accurate to the tone and visual appearance of Will Eisner's beloved comic book.
Skragg
I saw this pilot when it was first shown, and I'm sure countless "Spirit" fans hate it, because, like Batman, the Green Hornet etc., it took the character in the direction of "camp". But I evidently never got enough of Batman, because I thought it was entertaining, in some of the same ways as that show. There are two parts that stay with me. First, when Denny's partner has been fatally wounded, and he makes a dramatic speech about how he always stood for the law, and obeying the exact letter of it. Then, he says something like, "Boy, was I stupid!" Which is his way of telling Denny to become a vigilante instead, which he does (though the TV Batman kind). Then, there's the scene where he tries to seduce the villainess into letting him go by kissing her, but she isn't fooled, because he's too honest to kiss her convincingly ! This was a great example of "camp", that was also "underplayed", by both the actor and actress.
DN-6
Based upon Will Eisner's comic book character, the movie manages to capture the essence of the hero while sacrificing the film noir elements of the original comic book. Here are all the trademarks of the original character: the torn shirt, the beautiful femme fatale, the cemetery, the rain storms. However, the film never looks "right" - the film appears low budget despite some very good actors and actresses. Part of the problem is the translation of the Spirit to the 1980's. Two scenes in the film stand out as classic Esiner: the scene in the foundry and the final fight in the museum. Not a great film but a fun way to spend an afternoon.
AD
